There is no question that Jeff Carpenter, co-owner of Zack Woods Herb Farm, has farming in his blood. Asked about his favorite season, he waxes on about spring's optimism, renewal, the smell of the new earth. “There’s so much potential, the buds are ripe, there is so much hope, dreaming, and visioning.” This is what drives so many of us after the long winter, but farmers most of all. Melanie and Jeff get out there and prep new fields, disc harrow the older fields, spread manure and compost, and seed and nurture the little fellows back in the greenhouse. The cycle begins...

After my article about prices appeared in last month’s newsletter, I had several good conversations with shareholders on that subject, which led to some observations on the store and the traffic at our end of town as well. Here’s the gist of our chats. On prices.One shareholder expressed disappointment that my article addressed only general concepts that are commonly appreciated already, whereas specific examples would have been more enlightening. Two products in particular had her puzzled.

We’re looking for Co-op Board Candidates...Come join us!Contact Shareholder Services for more information, or come to the next board meeting, first Mondays of the month, 5:15pm, 2 Main St.Download a 2013 BFC Board Candidate Packet, and a Candidate Statement form here, or pick one up at Shareholder Services.

Beginning in July, all of the Brattleboro Food Co-op shareholders shopping at the Putney Co-op will be able to log their purchases to the Brattleboro Food Co-op member account, while the Putney Food Co-op members shopping at the Brattleboro Food Co-op will be able to log their purchases into the Putney shareholder account. The idea is that those purchases that aggregate patronage will be tracked as a co-op shareholder, and at the end of the year, assuming profitable year-ends, the declared dividends will be pooled for common Brattleboro/Putney Food Co-op projects. This is one of the examples of coordinated efforts that our neighborly co-ops have been exploring. Cooperation among cooperatives!